Jesus Only: Part OneSample

Week 4, Day 7 - Saturday - Review/Catch-up Day

Re-read Colossians 1:24-29 slowly and out loud. Then meditate on it. 

"I (Paul) am glad when I suffer for you (believers at Colossae) in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me."

Reflection Questions:

In what ways have others experienced God’s presence in me?

What areas of maturity might the Holy Spirit be developing in me?

Take a moment to thank God for new insights and bask in His Presence in me.

Additional Resources:

If you find the Bible hard to understand sometimes, well, there’s a reason for that. It was translated to English, but it’s not modern American literature. Getting some clues about why and how people wrote during this time can really help

These short videos helped me get a handle on ancient Biblical writing styles:

How to Read New Testament Letters (featuring Ephesians, the twin epistle to Colossians)

How to Read the Bible (help for understanding the style as well as the content)